According to a report by Football London on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Chelsea defender Mamadou Sarr has spoken about the difficult period he endured during his six months at Stamford Bridge, describing the experience as horrible before eventually moving to Real Sociedad on loan in search of more regular football.

The 21-year-old Senegalese centre-back returned to Chelsea in early 2026 after spending time at Strasbourg, where he had previously worked under Liam Rosenior. However, his return to the Premier League side proved disappointing despite initially being given opportunities to impress.

Sarr started four matches for Chelsea, including FA Cup fixtures against Wrexham and Hull City, as well as a Premier League encounter with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

His situation took a negative turn during Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 meeting with Paris Saint-Germain. With the Blues already trailing 5-2 on aggregate, the defender misjudged a long ball, allowing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to race through on goal and further weaken Chelsea’s hopes of recovering from the deficit.

Although Sarr had shown promise in his earlier appearances, the costly mistake was followed by a spell on the sidelines, with the youngster finding it difficult to work his way back into the starting team.

In an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, the defender admitted that the experience was emotionally demanding, particularly because his return to Chelsea had initially been encouraging.

“It was really very difficult – a rollercoaster. I was coming back from the AFCON and I was on a cloud. I started to play, have some good matches, but the one against PSG and that error came quickly,” he said.

Sarr also expressed disappointment over the lack of communication he received while struggling for playing time, explaining how difficult it was to remain on the bench without understanding his situation.

“No longer doing your job, staying on the bench and watching your teammates play was very hard to experience, especially without any explanation,” he added.

After Rosenior’s departure and his continued struggle for opportunities, Sarr eventually left Chelsea on a season-long loan to Real Sociedad during the summer transfer window.

The move has provided the young defender with the opportunity to revive his career. He has already started six domestic matches and featured in all three of Real Sociedad’s Europa League fixtures, accumulating 733 minutes across both competitions.

Reflecting on the change of environment, Sarr suggested that regular football has helped restore his confidence and happiness.

“I am living again. I had to be patient and find the best way out of Chelsea. I was hungry, very hungry. I wanted just one thing: to play football,” he said.

His departure could also leave Chelsea with fewer defensive options, particularly as Maxence Lacroix is currently recovering from a hamstring injury expected to keep him out until the new year.